How can ag retailers incorporate cover crops into their business model? Datu reports on the experience of two farmer-owned cooperatives that are committed to actively supporting their customers with cover crop products, advice and services. A follow-on to our September 2018 study of Certified Crop Advisors and Ag Retailers, these case studies tell the story of how each co-op came to embrace cover crops. Each one shares victories and challenges, lessons learned, and advice to other ag retailers who are interested in expanding their own cover crop offerings.

Testimonials

Capacity

Datu Research brought a fresh perspective to a research challenge for our organization. Their ability to support an enormous research scope—30 site visits in 20 countries in less than three months—while still being flexible to our needs and feedback was critical to achieving our research objectives. I have been thrilled with the quality of the report Datu produced, and with the efforts of Datu’s team to provide clear direction and recommendation for the next phase of our project work. They were truly a pleasure to work with.

Hilary LeavManager, Research and EvaluationRotary International

Synthesis

Datu’s ability to synthesize complex data on the world’s most pressing challenges and distill the most important lessons is unmatched. Their work has helped us gain a holistic understanding of a very complicated, and often opaque, industry and apply it to our advocacy.

Expertise

Datu ably and quickly became knowledgeable on farmer adoption of conservation practices and used their deep expertise at gathering and sifting data to deliver insights that will be useful for the entire conservation sector.

Impact

Datu carried out research into the self-replication of savings groups in Uganda, leading to findings that have significantly influenced the microfinance industry’s strategies for expanding this sector at low cost. The research was thorough, insightful and sophisticated and was carried out with enthusiasm. It was a pleasure to engage with an organization that cared about the work it was doing and that produced exceptional results.

Hugh AllenCEOVSL Associates

Integrity

I have been fortunate to work with Datu on two research endeavors investigating the value chains of Louisiana’s Oyster and Shrimp industries and avenues to support economic resilience within each. Datu’s impeccable integrity as an independent, third-party research institute and its commitment to thoroughly investigate using primary and secondary data were integral to the success of these efforts.